Manchester United’s executive vice chairman Ed Woodward has written to all the club’s 900 permanent staff explaining that they will not be furloughed and outlining how the club intend to help during the coronavirus pandemic.
United had already agreed to pay their 954 match-day casual staff until the end of the season and they are considering how to further support those employees.
All non-match day staff had their wages paid until the end of April. This has now been extended to until June 1 and they will receive an average weekly pay based on the hours they have worked between December and February.
Permanent staff have been reassured that the club will continue to pay their salaries as if they were working, be as flexible as possible to support those working from home and to pay a minimum of four weeks company sick pay at the full rate and four weeks half pay afterwards.
This is the latest initiative by United in football’s lockdown. Along with Manchester City, the club donated £50,000 (Dh226,000) to the Trussell Trust to support 19 food banks across Greater Manchester.
They also made goodwill payments of £350 to each of the 700 fans who bought tickets for the club’s last game, a Europa League match in Austria last month which was played behind closed doors.
United will also provide rebates or refunds to ticket-holders for any games that are cancelled or played behind closed doors.
They are currently ringing around 3,000 elderly Season Ticket holders who are in isolation to check on their well being.
The club are also having ongoing discussions with the NHS on the best way for the club to assist through donations of equipment, goods, use of facilities at Old Trafford, and volunteering by staff.
In an email sent to staff on Monday, Woodward wrote: “We have reviewed how we can best support all our colleagues within the Manchester United family.
"As you may know, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme has been created by the Government for companies to use.
"Currently, this extends through to 1 June, however, we can confirm that we will not be furloughing any staff as part of this scheme and we will be paying all our employees as if they were working as usual.
"We will continue to keep the situation under review and communicate with you if this were to change in any way in the future.
“For those colleagues who are unable to complete their normal roles, or have a reduced workload during this period, we strongly encourage you to volunteer – either with the NHS or in your local communities.
"The club is in active discussions about multiple ways for us to help the NHS and employee volunteering is one way for us to make a difference.
"As previously communicated, please let us know when you volunteer, so we can provide you with further support as required.”
